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Erdogan visits Islamabad, lectures Govt, Opposition

Turkey’s influence on Pakistan may have a sobering effect on the madrasa politics that have pushed the country into the arms of Islamist fundamentalists. Pakistan’s legacy is folk Islam, also known as Sufism, which is unique to South Asia. It treats every one as equal in the quest for self –realisation

Poreg View: The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan has taken place when Pakistan leaders are practicing brinkman politics with their gaze not going beyond the nose. So, he appears to have come prepared for playing the role of an elderly advisor. Since has worked at home to checkmate the generals, his advice to his Pakistani hosts is not let their rivalry cost them the very democratic system that has given them the breathing space.

His message delivered in chaste Turkish was received well, and it should contribute to easing of tensions between the ruling party, PPP, the main Opposition, PML-N and the main player on the scene, the army. He enjoys good relations with all the three. And in their own way, all the three turned to Istanbul and requested Erdogan to broker a three-way peace deal.

Hitherto, that honour was the exclusive preserve of the royal house of Saudi Arabia, which always acted on the American brief. Erdogan visit shows that Turkey has picked up the mantle. In a sense, it shows the rising political, financial and military clout of Turkey on the global chess board.

Turkey’s influence on Pakistan may have a sobering effect on the madrasa politics that have pushed the country into the arms of Islamist fundamentalists. Pakistan’s legacy is folk Islam, also known as Sufism, which is unique to South Asia. It treats every one as equal in the quest for self –realisation.

As the Express Tribune reported on Page One, Turkish Premier’s address to Pakistan Parliament on May 21 was “nothing short of a scolding by an elder sibling – a well settled one at that”.

For instance, the visiting leader bluntly told the lawmakers that opposition should not adopt confrontationist stand on the floor of legislature and become cantankerous beyond a point. “The real role of the opposition”, he said, “is not to criticise the government not merely for the sake of criticism but to point out the ills that need to be corrected.”

He went on to say: “A strong democratic system in Pakistan could lead to an equally strong economic system that could benefit its people”. He said there was heavy responsibility on the nation’s parliamentarians.

It is a timely advice to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) which has become a hostage to its own politics of playing unto the army galleries, and street level bravado. It has turned the floor of Parliament into a wrestling ring as it clamoured for the scalp of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the wake of Supreme Court’s conviction in the contempt case.  
The PML –N law makers were present in strength in Parliament as Erdogan spoke. The Number Two in the PML-N, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also present.

One give away to the success of Erdogan’s mission was ‘thank you’ from Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.  “It is because of you that we have put all our differences aside to honour and welcome a true friend of Pakistan,” he told the guest from Turkey frankly. He hailed the Turkish Premier as ‘a bridge between the West and Islamic world’.   And Shahbaz Sharif said the opposition has put aside their differences with the government only to welcome Prime Minister Erdogan, who, he recalled had helped Pakistan ‘in every hour of need’.

The Sharif brothers may not immediately lower their guns but can be expected to quietly take back their fire power. It will be in synch with Erdogan’s advice to cool the hyped tempers.

Based on the tone and tenor of Erdogan’s discussions in the Pakistani capital, a couple of things are clear. One Prime Minister Gilani would go, whether finally convicted or unseated by the apex court. His successor will be no more than a caretaker till the elections. This step gives the PML- N a talking point and checkmates PTI supremo, Imran Khan, who has emerged as the darling of the middle classes.  PPP and PML may have no direct truck but will work behind the scenes for mutual benefit. Imran knows this danger. So he will step up efforts to woo Istanbul into his orbit

Two Turkey will actively intervene on the NATO supply routes controversy and see that the US-Pak patch up with each other’s honour and pride in tact.  What this would mean is that Turkey will impress upon Washington to pay more per truck for the NATO supplies routed through Karachi port and Torkham Pass. Turkey can use its influence to convince NATO and the US to be generous.  Erdogan’s meeting with the leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and other religious parties is significant. Since these parties are determined to block the NATO supply routes, his counsel to them was to look at the big picture.

As the Turkey Prime Minister returns home, it is tempting to ask how Pakistan could allow another country to be a peace broker on its very own soil, and help it to get a few extra green backs per NATO truck. What has happened to the tall talk of sovereignty in danger that the Pakistani leaders from the treasury benches to the opposition and to the barracks have been talking?  

Since the 70’s Saudi Arabia has been one of the ‘A” trinity guiding the destiny of Pakistan. What was the result? The country got Saudi funded religion based politics, mushroom growth of madrasas, Islamization of school text books, rent a jihad drive, and threat to its core folk Islam.

Will Turkey, who sits at the cross roads to Europe and Asia, help Pakistan to relay its highway to the new world? It may and if this happens, Pakistan will be able to turn the tide. In that sense, addition of T to the ‘A’ trinity, may not see history repeat itself.

Analysts and commentators in Islamabad are never short of words. It will be interesting to see the defence they would advance to justify Erdogan’s homilies and pot-shots. If their analysis veers round the old cliché – it is all about money, honey, well, it will not be a surprise.
 
–Malladi Rama Rao

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